NEWPORT COUNTY V TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
IT was only last season that Robbie Willmott would have to take his own pre-match meal onto the team coach for a game.
It was normally a pasta pot and a bottle of Lucozade, bought from Tesco.
“The good thing was I could have staff discount,” laughs the 27-year-old.
If not already, it may well end up being a tale the midfielder can dine out on for years to come if Newport County’s wondrous FA Cup story continues today as Tottenham Hotspur come to Rodney Parade.
Just a few months ago, Willmott had been preparing to take up a career with the supermarket chain he joined as a Christmas temp following a drop into part-time football. He had made peace with the fact his days in the Football League were over; now he’s set to battle some of the biggest names in the domestic game.
A long way away from stacking shelves and early-morning starts.
“I started at Tesco as a temp over Christmas while I was playing in the Conference South,” said Wilmott, who had dropped to the sixth-tier after being told in 2015 by Newport he was no longer wanted after two years in south Wales. “My dad was a manager with them so he helped me get the job, and I’d be stocking and filling shelves Monday to Friday.
“At the time, I was on loan from Ebbsfleet at Bishop’s Stortford – where I’m from – and I stayed part-time when I went to Chelmsford, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to carry on playing.
“I decided to look at my future and I was offered the chance to work with the maintenance side of the company and I began my training. It would be Where: Rodney Parade When: Saturday, January 27 (5.30pm). What is the latest team news? Newport County: Captain Joss Labadie and Matty Dolan both missed Newport’s recent League Two games against Morecambe and Crawley Town but could return to face Spurs. And the Exiles are also set to be boosted by the return of Ben White Tottenham Hotspur: Serge Aurier, Harry Winks, Danny Rose and Erik Lamela all look set to miss the trip, while Spurs also have a number of other concerns ahead of their clash with the Exiles. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen have both been struggling with illness, but could be in contention to feature, though it’s too soon for Toby Alderweireld. What have the managers said? Michael Flynn (Newport County): “It’s a free hit. I go into every football match confident. If any player thinks we can’t win on Saturday then they will probably be sat next to me or up in the stands because we’ve got to believe we can go and cause an upset.” Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham): “We will take the best players to try to win, only thinking about trying to go to the next stage. It will be difficult because the FA Cup is always difficult to play in. It’s not about the level or if you play against a Championship, League One or League Two team. It’s one game and a difficult pitch to play on.” What are the latest betting odds? Newport County win 16/1; Draw (replay) 13/2; Tottenham win 1/7. Referee: Roger East.